Babes

Lights lower to dim as

Slideshow flicks on screen

Reveals first photo of babe in arms.

Tears fall like a river

The child’s mother passes me kleenex.

Yes, this is graduation

The only situation that can bring me to tears.

My heart thinks

“this isn’t even my kid”

but truth is

I have been a part

Of many a life that I’m not biologically related to.

8^th graders filled the house

crazy hair, braces on teeth

sugar highs raise the roof

as we cart outside for ‘balloon stomp’

and ANTM walks on the garden path.

Crazy presentations with ‘Drain-0’ on stage

and dances with tissues

all a pre-cursor

for the depths of discussion

and questions openly asked

missional times

as I watched you grow.

I don’t remember half of what I taught you

(erase that which was in appropriate)

But I remember the times

I wiped your tears

And listened as you poured your heart

And pride when you stepped onto the stage and spoke

Or played or acted

Or spiked that ball

I remember how rough around the edges you were

At the start

And I wondered

What would you become?

And the hours of worry

And prayer and wondering

Will you be ok?

And now

You are more

So much more than ok

And I’m glad that I could be here

to see you

complete

this stage. 

For ahead of you stretches

A path of multi weaving

Leading and taking you

Who but Father knows

I release you babes

Like arrows through the sphere

And you will be famous

A father or spouse

A leader, a teacher

Activist, entrepreneur

Doing things that will be

Unknown to me. 

But we had this time

And I poured into you now

And I can never forget

The difference that made.

The difference we all make

When we put others first.

Building and growing

The next generation of artillery.

Our capacity stretches far beyond who we are

And into those who drink

From our stream outpouring.

So be a fountain that quenches

A stream of life

For by your banks

Growth will be seen. 

Thank you babes,

For letting me be,

A small part of your life,

A piece of your legacy.